Monitoring device detection system and method

{
  "publication_number": "US11956699B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Monitoring device detection system and method",
  "abstract": "A monitoring device detection system may include a mounting assembly disposed onboard a vehicle system. The mounting assembly couples a vehicle signaling and monitoring device to the vehicle system. One or more sensors may obtain information related to one or more of the mounting assembly or the vehicle system. One or more processors may determine a state of the mounting assembly based on the information obtained by the one or more sensors.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a mounting assembly configured to be coupled with a vehicle system to transferably couple a vehicle signaling and monitoring device to an exterior portion of the vehicle system, the mounting assembly including a first member and a second member, the first member configured to move relative to the second member to couple the mounting assembly with the vehicle system; one or more sensors configured to obtain information related to one or more of the mounting assembly or the vehicle system; and one or more processors configured to determine a state of the mounting assembly and a location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device based on the information obtained by the one or more sensors, the one or more processors configured to communicate one or more of the state of the mounting assembly or the location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device with a remote location.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to move relative to the second member with actuation of a handle to couple the mounting assembly with the vehicle system.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the state of the mounting assembly based on one or more of a position of the handle, a position of the first member, or a position of the second member.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first member comprises a hook and the second member comprises a jaw member, the hook configured to move relative to the jaw member with actuation of the handle to couple the mounting assembly with the vehicle system.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information related to the mounting assembly includes movement of the first member in one or more directions relative to the second member.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to move between plural unloaded positions and a fully loaded position, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine if the first member is in the fully loaded position or if the first member is in one of the unloaded positions.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the state of the mounting assembly based on an amount of time between the first member being in one of the plural unloaded positions and the first member being in the fully loaded position.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the state of the mounting assembly by one or more of determining whether the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system and in a locked position, determining whether the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system and in an unlocked position, or determining the location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device relative to the vehicle system responsive to determining that the mounting assembly is disconnected from the vehicle system and is being stored at the location.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine if the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system or if the mounting assembly is not coupled with the vehicle system.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive sensed information from one or more other sensors of the vehicle system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine if the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system based at least in part on the sensed information from the one or more other sensors of the vehicle system.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to correlate the information obtained by the one or more sensors with the sensed information from the one or more other sensors of the vehicle system.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes one or more of position sensors, pressure sensors, light sensors, accelerometers, or magnetic sensors.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are disposed off-board the vehicle system.",
    "14. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle signaling and monitoring device is configured to be transferably coupled with the vehicle system via the mounting assembly, the vehicle system including plural vehicles, wherein the vehicle signaling and monitoring device is configured to identify a designation of at least one of the plural vehicles to which the vehicle signaling and monitoring device is transferably coupled.",
    "15. A method comprising: obtaining information related to one or more of a mounting assembly or a vehicle system with one or more sensors coupled with one or more of the mounting assembly or the vehicle system, the mounting assembly including a first member and a second member, the first member configured to move relative to the second member to couple the mounting assembly with the vehicle system, the mounting assembly configured to transferably couple a vehicle signaling and monitoring device to an exterior portion of the vehicle sy stem; determining a location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device relative to the vehicle system based on at least a portion of the information obtained by the one or more sensors; determining a state of the mounting assembly based on at least a portion of the information obtained by the one or more sensors; and communicating one or more of the state of the mounting assembly or the location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device with a remote location.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first member is configured to move relative to the second member with actuation of a handle to couple the mounting assembly with the vehicle system.",
    "17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining the state of the mounting assembly based on one or more of a position of the handle, a position of the first member, or a position of the second member.",
    "18. The method of claim 15, wherein the information related to the mounting assembly includes movement of the first member in one or more directions relative to the second member.",
    "19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first member is configured to move between plural unloaded positions and a fully loaded position, further comprising determining if the first member is in the fully loaded position or if the first member is in one of the unloaded positions.",
    "20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the state of the mounting assembly includes one or more of determining whether the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system and in a locked position, determining whether the mounting assembly is coupled with the vehicle system and in an unlocked position, or determining the location of the vehicle signaling and monitoring device relative to the vehicle system responsive to a determination that the mounting assembly is disconnected from the vehicle system."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Technical Field The subject matter described relates to vehicle monitoring systems and methods. Discussion of Art Vehicle signaling and monitoring devices may be coupled with vehicle systems as the vehicle systems move along routes. The monitoring devices may monitor the vehicle systems and/or the routes along which the vehicle systems move. Optionally, the monitoring devices may be transferrable devices that may be moved from one vehicle to another vehicle, from one vehicle system to a storage facility, from a storage facility to a maintenance facility, or the like. One technical problem of existing systems and methods is an inability to quickly and easily track large volumes (e.g., hundreds) of these monitoring devices. The devices may only report locations when the devices are activated. The devices may be deactivated when not in use and cannot report locations while deactivated. Additionally, tracking relies on human operators to record and report current locations, but given the large numbers of devices and frequent swapping out of devices, locations and statuses are rarely tracked or recorded accurately or in a timely manner.\n\nFor example, when monitoring devices are not in use by vehicle systems, the extra devices may be stored at a storage facility, railyard, or warehouse. However, unless a monitoring device is activated, an operator may not know how many devices are available for use, how many devices are in need of maintenance or repair, or how many devices may be unavailable because the devices are assigned to other vehicle systems.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 4/38",
    "F16B 2/10",
    "F16B 2/185",
    "F16B 45/00",
    "F16B 7/0473",
    "F16M 13/02",
    "G07C 5/008",
    "G07C 5/0808",
    "H04W 4/40"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 45/00",
    "F16M 13/02",
    "G07C 5/00",
    "H04W 4/38"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TRANSP IP HOLDINGS LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "KURZ BRIAN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-03-16",
  "publication_date": "2024-04-09",
  "grant_date": "2024-04-09",
  "priority_date": "2020-03-23",
  "application_number": "US-202117203466-A",
  "family_id": "77748816",
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}